Death of a rivalry? Former Appalachian State, Western Carolina players weigh in on the possibility

Monday

Nov 18, 2013 at 12:01 AMNov 18, 2013 at 10:57 AM

Richard Walker

BOONE – Barring an upset Saturday in Boone, former North Gaston High standout Justin Clark will remain the answer to a trivia question.

He wishes he wasn’t.

But until Clark’s alma mater, Western Carolina, beats Appalachian State again, he’ll remain the last Catamounts quarterback to lead his school to victory in the “Old Mountain Jug” rivalry.

And since Saturday’s meeting is the last scheduled matchup between the longtime rivals, there’s a real chance Clark’s legacy could last a mighty long time.

As most who follow college football know, the winds of realignment that gripped virtually every conference nationwide have blown into this state.

In the ACC, it means original member Maryland will no longer play Duke, North Carolina, N.C. State or Wake Forest once it joins the Big Ten Conference and Notre Dame is a part-time ACC football member.

East Carolina is in its final season in Conference USA as it will finally join a major Bowl Championship Series conference – the American Athletic Conference (formerly Big East) – next season.

And in the Southern Conference, Appalachian State is leaving the league (and Football Championship Subdivision classification) for the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference.

It means Appalachian State and Western Carolina could meet again – both schools seem confident their series will be renewed at some point – but it won’t be the annual home-and-home series that it has been since the rivalry began in 1932.

Appalachian State has dominated the series. Not only do the Mountaineers lead 58-18-1 in overall meetings, but they have won 26 of the last 28 meetings, losing only in 1998 and 2004 since the 1985 season.

But local alumni on both sides of the rivalry hope the schools will do whatever they can to keep the series alive – if for no other reason than it’s the longest rivalry for each school.

“I don’t know how to feel about the idea it might end, to be honest,” said Clark, a 2002 North Gaston High graduate who played for the Catamounts from 2003 to 2006. “It’s always been a big rivalry for Western. It might not be that big to Appalachian State, but I do think it’s an important game for the fans and the communities and the Western part of the state.”

Clark, now an assistant football coach at Atlanta, Ga., Northview High, is one of several former local standouts to have played in the rivalry.

Wilson, now an assistant coach at his alma mater of Huss, echoes the sentiments of many from the area who played in the game.

“They’ve got to find a way to keep that going,” said Wilson, who played for Appalachian State from 1995 to 1998. “Who will be our rival team now? To me, it should be like the non-conference opener or the end-of-the-season game like it is this season.”

The impetus for Appalachian State’s move to NCAA Division I came after the Mountaineers won back-to-back-to-back national championships from 2005 to 2007 – or right after the Catamounts’ last win.

“Ever since we won that game, App went on that run,” said Rainey, now a MMA fighter who played linebacker for the Catamounts from 2002 to 2004. “So maybe we helped inspire them.”

Rauch, who played on each of the Mountaineers’ national title teams, says the 2004 loss did provide motivation for his school.

“You know, as a freshman I don’t know that I knew the significance of the rivalry,” said Rauch, now a kicker for the Pittsburgh Power of the Arena Football League. “Coming off that loss, I think we all knew how significant it was to beat them and to keep the ‘Old Mountain Jug.’”

Dale Hollifield, whose donation of $50,000 was the lead gift and earned naming rights for Western Carolina’s $225,000 Dale and Diane Hollifield Locker Room at Whitmire Stadium, thinks a Catamounts’ win on Saturday might ensure the continuation of the rivalry.

“We’re happy as Western fans because they're down this year,” said Hollifield, a three-year letterwinner at Western Carolina whose sons Ryan and Andy played at Appalachian State in the early 1990s. “Maybe we can beat them, get the ‘Jug’ and they’ll want to play to get it back.”

You can reach Richard Walker at 704-869-1841 or by twitter.com/JRWalk22

More comments on the potential end of the Appalachian State-Western Carolina rivalry:

“I think now might be the time for Western to look at a major Division I conference. I know we haven’t had the success that Appalachian has had, but we’re state schools with large fan bases.” … Justin Clark, a quarterback at Western Carolina from 2003 to 2006

“It was a good rivalry but it’s not been that much the last few years. I’d hate to see it go away because the schools, the fan bases and alumni bases are so similar. Really, it’s such a natural rivalry.” … Chuck Dellinger, an offensive lineman at Western Carolina from 1974 to 1978

“It’s going to be different, you know, not playing for ‘The Jug.’ We’ll just have to make new rivalries in the new conference.” … Cleveland Browns receiver Armanti Edwards, who led Appalachian State to the 2006 and 2007 national titles and was a two-time Walter Payton Award winner as the nation’s top FCS player.

“It was a game couldn’t lose. It was for pride, recruiting and everything. After losing in 1998, that next year, we probably prepared 10 times harder than before because we didn’t want that feeling again.” … Rocky Hunt, a two-time All-Southern Conference defensive lineman at Appalachian State during his career from 1996 to 1999.

“I just think with all the tradition, it would be sad to see it come to an end. Not having the game would be awkward for Catamounts fans. And I’m sure it’ll be awkward for the App fans too. The rumors of them going up have been out there for awhile, but it would definitely hurt if the rivalry goes away.” … Cranston Johnson, a one-time All-Conference defensive back at Western Carolina during his career from 1995 to 1998.

“I hope it doesn’t end. I hope they can keep playing. It doesn’t make sense to stop that rivalry.” … Doug Mauldin, a running back at Appalachian State from 1957 to 1958

“It’s a rivalry that’s gone back forever. Even though it’s been a lopsided rivalry lately, it’s still a big rivalry.” … Ricky Rainey, a linebacker at Western Carolina from 2002 to 2004

“For us, winning ‘The Jug’ was expected. For them, it made their season. But it’s why rivalry games are fun.” … Julian Rauch, a kicker at Appalachian State from 2004 to 2007

“You know, in high school, when teams leave a conference and move to different classifications, you still try to play your rivals. I think that’s what should happen here. There’s too good a history to not continue the rivalry. There’s just so many alumni in the region to not keep it going.” … Shelby head coach Lance Ware, an offensive lineman at Appalachian State from 1993 to 1996

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